Staten Island man admits to shooting; to be sentenced to a year in jail

Staten Island Advance/Michael OatesJaeshon Johnson, 22, of New Brighton, left, is escorted into state Supreme Court, St. George, on June 15.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A New Brighton resident who shot another man over a woman will be sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to felony assault.

But Jaeshon Johnson's dealings with the law are far from over -- still pending is an unrelated felony case in which he's accused of illegally possessing a vehicle identification number.

Prosecutors said the shooting occurred May 27 around 3:30 a.m. outside 240 Broadway, West Brighton.

The unidentified victim initially told cops he was on his way to his girlfriend's house from a party. The man said he got into an argument with another person who shot him, said cops.

The victim walked to Richmond University Medical Center, about a half-mile away, where he was treated and released, said a law enforcement source.

The source said the dispute was over a woman, and prosecutors accused Johnson, 22, of being the shooter. He was arrested on June 13.

Johnson pleaded guilty on Friday in state Supreme Court, St. George, to second-degree assault, said a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan. Under the agreement, he'll be sentenced Oct. 17 to a year in jail.

A law enforcement source said prosecutors were hindered because the victim was uncooperative. Johnson has no prior felony convictions, the source added.

Defense lawyer Eugene Lamb declined comment on the plea on Monday.

Johnson's pending criminal case stems from an April 17 arrest in which he was charged with illegal possession of a vehicle, in an apparently unrelated incident.

In the most serious incident, Luis Vazquez, 21, was allegedly shot and paralyzed by the father of a man with whom Vazquez was fighting -- also over a woman.

The gunplay occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 28, at Delafield Avenue and Broadway in West Brighton.

George Payne, 59, of West Brighton subsequently surrendered to police. He is accused of attempted murder and other charges. He has denied the allegations, and his case is pending in state Supreme Court, St. George.